Gadi Shorr
martial artist
Gadiel Shorr is the founder of Yoshinkan Aikido in Israel and of Core Aikido, a system based on Yoshinkan Aikido. Gadiel Shorr is currently ranked 7th Dan in Yoshinkan Aikido.
Residence: Moshav Gealya, Israel
Nationality: Dual nationality of Israel and Britain
Style: Core Aikido, Yoshinkan Aikido
Teachers: Gozo Shioda, Tsutomu Chida
Years Active: 1989-Present
Website: www.aikido.org.il
Early Life
Gadi was born in Yafo (Jaffa), Israel, on 7 October 1967. From an early age he showed an interest in various fighting styles and Far East Asian practices. He started practicing boxing at the age of 11 and later took up Yoga. He trained in Shotokan Karate for 6 years. Gadi served in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) from 1986-1989.
Yoshinkan Aikido Training
After leaving the army in 1989, Gadi travelled to Tokyo, Japan, to pursue his love of martial arts. He intended to continue training in Karate, but a friend who trained in Yoshinkan Aikido took Gadi to observe a class conducted by Master Gozo Shioda, the founder of Yoshinkan Aikido. Gadi was so impressed that he joined the Honbu Dojo in August 1989 and began training in Yoshinkan Aikido.
At first he joined the regular classes held by the Yoshinkan instructors. In 1990 he signed up for the Tokyo Riot Police Course, a year-long intensive training. At the same time he became an Uchi Deshi at the Honbu Dojo, where, in exchange for a place to sleep, he took on duties such as maintaining the dojo, serving the teachers, and helping in teaching.
After completing the course and attaining Shodan level, Gadi joined the teaching staff at the Honbu Dojo. It was the last time that non-Japanese students would participate in the Tokyo Riot Police Course, as a new course had been established: the International Senshusei Course, consisting mainly of non-Japanese students. Gadi became one of the teachers of this course alongside Jacques Payet, Mark Baker, and Roland Thompson. Gadi taught 2 Senshusei courses while continuing to train in Yoshinkan Aikido.
Gadi left Japan in 1993 and travelled to China for a few months to pursue his studies in Asian medicine, especially acupuncture. He studied at the Japan China Friendship Hospital and trained in Wushu and Tai Chi at the same time. Gadi then returned to Japan to continue teaching and studying Aikido. He obtained the level of 4th Dan before leaving Japan.
Yoshinkan Aikido, Israel
In 1994, Gadi returned to Israel and opened a dojo in Ramat Chen, near Tel Aviv, thereby founding the headquarters of Yoshinkan Aikido in Israel. The dojo is open to this day. Gadi is the official Yoshinkan Aikido representative in Israel.
From 2002-2007, Gadi lived in England and opened a dojo in Rickmansworth. In 2007, he was promoted to 6th Dan.
In 2007, Gadi moved back to Israel and took over training of the Ramat Chen dojo once again. Gadi opened other dojos in Nes Tziona, and Lachish. These dojos are currently in operation.
In 2018, he was promoted to 7th Dan and received the title of Shihan – Master of the art.
Aikido Articles and books
In addition to running four dojos, Gadi also writes articles that have been published in various places including Aikiweb and Tapuz Martial Arts Forum in Israel. Gadi has written two Aikido novels, Skill and its sequel, City In The Clouds, an aikido fantasy based on his training in Yoshinkan Aikido at the Honbu Dojo in Japan. The first book has been translated into Japanese and was published by Hiden, one of the main martial arts publishers in Japan. Gadi was featured in two newspaper articles in Israel about Aikido and also in two Hiden magazines in Japan.